Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

Engaging in difficult conversations is challenging these days. We all have strong views on religion and politics and when someone says something we disagree with easily get offended. Yet it's important to be able to have conversations over current issues, even when they're controversial. Civil discourse is important to a healthy society. So here's a suggestion. When you engage in conversation listen and try to understand the other person. Think the best of them and their motives. They may be possibly misinformed or maybe not even open to another perspective, but if you can talk with someone you disagree with, someone not like you and walk away from the conversation without being angry, chalk that up as a victory. If enough of us do that, we'll be better for it and so will our society.